Strange Whistle Coming From the Car....

[simpsoap]

so I have noticed this strange whistle coming from the car, but it doesn't happen all the time. It happens occasionally, which is quite strange. It is a whistling sound, which stays at a same level, and doesn't increase with acceleration. The only thing I notice is when I depress the clutch the noise does go away. On average this might happen twice a week, it doesn't occur everyday.

has anyone else experienced the same thing? the car is running great, just noticed this strange noise over the weekend, and it happened again yesterday.

Any ideas?

[nastyE39]

release bearing is probably going bad. It usually whistles and when you depress the clutch pedal you release the bearing from spinning so it stops.

[simpsoap]

release bearing is probably going bad. It usually whistles and when you depress the clutch pedal you release the bearing from spinning so it stops.

is this a common issue? would it be something that doesn't occur all the time? How hard or costly is this to replace?

andy

[ColoBoff5ers]

I can hear the same thing except mine is coming from under the hood. I can hear mine when rpm's are over 1,700 and the car is warm and it is warm out side. I had a buddy of mine listen and he said it sounds like it is coming from the front driver side of the motor. Hmmmm???

[PGH540BIMMER]

before i bought my e39, i read this book called BMW Buyer's Guide by Fred Larimer, bought it from Amazon. There it's cited to look for whistle sound coming from the engine near firewall and it then goes on to say it is caused by leaky vacuum line behind the engine block.

i saw the vl fitting when i did my vc. it's right there on the back of the engine towards the driver's side.

[simpsoap]

before i bought my e39, i read this book called BMW Buyer's Guide by Fred Larimer, bought it from Amazon. There it's cited to look for whistle sound coming from the engine near firewall and it then goes on to say it is caused by leaky vacuum line behind the engine block.

i saw the vl fitting when i did my vc. it's right there on the back of the engine towards the driver's side.

any possible way you can take a picture of this and post it so that we can see exactly what you are referring too? it would be greatly appreciated.

[PGH540BIMMER]

any possible way you can take a picture of this and post it so that we can see exactly what you are referring too? it would be greatly appreciated.

here is the picture:



j/k i'm just having fun on my day off....

i did take some pictures when i did vc but there isn't one with it. sorry.

but it's an easy check to verify the problem (see picture).

[nastyE39]

A vacuum leak wont go away when you depress the clutch pedal, so therefore thats something totally different. To change the release bearing requires removing the tranny and its located on the counter shaft on the tranny. As far as cost to change that I am not sure, also if you go in to change that I recommend you change the entire clutch kit and the rear main seal, reason being all thats right in that area so you might as well get it all done one time. I really wont pay that whistle to much attention unless its bad.

[ColoBoff5ers]

I can hear mine if the car is moving or not or in gear or not clutch in or out. It is completly rpm dependent. Any ideas??

[cpatstone]

I can hear mine if the car is moving or not or in gear or not clutch in or out. It is completly rpm dependent. Any ideas??

similar topic from bimmerfest

[ColoBoff5ers]

similar topic from bimmerfest

Ahhh ha! Thanks! I have a bad feeling that it may be the Crank vent vlave.

[dinan e39]

don't know if this helps, but all dinan throttle body/MAF owners have the same complaint. the whistle is from air moving over the throttle body butterfly due to increased flow. do you have an aftermarket CAI that might increase airflow?

[simpsoap]

No aftermarket MAF or CAI......

where is the crankcase valve located? I really need to purchase a bentley manual...is this install/repair difficult?

[NNY528I]

I get a wistle/chirp from my dash board area that comes and goes based on position of steering wheel among other things. I think its the fan in the HVAC panel.

[Brewtech]

I get a wistle/chirp from my dash board area that comes and goes based on position of steering wheel among other things. I think its the fan in the HVAC panel.

I get that same whistle. I located mine by shutting off my HVAC. it seems that in some cars, the blower motor whistles if its in a low setting.

[ColoBoff5ers]

Update:
I had my whitsle noise checked out. Turns out it was the p/s pump.
I had no other indications that the pumps was taking a dump on me.

[simpsoap]

Update:
I had my whitsle noise checked out. Turns out it was the p/s pump.
I had no other indications that the pumps was taking a dump on me.

was this diagnosed by the dealership? what year was your 540? also, what did it cost you?